anyone running traction bars?

[alienturtle]

I built i set of traction bars for my pickup. They are adjustable and removable. One side has right hand threads the other LH so you can turn the bar and they get shorter or longer. The question is to tighten them do you want to make the bar shorter and pull in or do you want to make them longer and push out. Thanks

 

[rjjp]

I would preload them against axle warp, shorter if over axle, longer if under.

 

[alienturtle]

My brackets are mounted under the axle so make the bars longer? How much tension do you put on them?

 

[Diesel_brad]

Just make sure the bars are parallel to the drive shaft or you will have binding when the suspension cycles

 

[88IDITurbo]

Put a shackle on the end of your traction bar (frame side) and you wont have to worry about suspension bind.

 

[wmoguy]

Fwiw I had a custom air ride suspension on a super duty years ago. It had traction bars. I was at the plant as they built and installed it. Anyway what they told me is that you wanted the bars to be as parallel to the frame/ground as possible. That could mean making some drop brackets like mine had to make that all happen.

 

[rjjp]

Put a shackle on the end of your traction bar (frame side) and you wont have to worry about suspension bind.

Pics?

 

[88IDITurbo]

Heres just a few pics from a quick google search. This one is a kit sold by: http://www.sams4x4store.com/index.html

Ruff Stuff Specialties and Ballistic Fabrication also have very similar kits.

You must be registered for see images

You must be registered for see images

You must be registered for see images

You must be registered for see images

 

[alienturtle]

interesting. This is a horrible pic but its night. i have no driveline in it right now or i would go see if it is the same. Looks ok in the pic right?

You must be registered for see images attach

 

[88IDITurbo]

interesting. This is a horrible pic but its night. i have no driveline in it right now or i would go see if it is the same. Looks ok in the pic right?

What does your frame mount look like? Hard to tell in the pic. Looks like the angle of your traction bar should line up nicely (parallel) with your driveline.

What size tube are you using?

 

[alienturtle]

the frame mount uses a big tractor pin that goes through the frame and welded on both sides. The joint then slides on the pin and a big clip holds it on. This allows me to remove them with no tools.

I used 2" tube

 

[towcat]

alan-
I don't know which board "dr. speed" hangs out on now, but back in the day when he still lived/worked in the bay area, he'd show up at the INO GTG's in Milpitas with a very overbuilt F250sd. It's now morphed into a ISB powered truck. He's the only person I know who's pulling sleds and he will have the answers you're looking for. He does post vids on youtube under "drspeed111" check him out and drop him a message. tell "haycube"(be sure to have that in the message, he'll know I sent you) to stop in here and say hi too.

 

[wmoguy]

Found an old pic of my traction bars on my super duty w/ air ride. notice how there is a drop bracket to try and get more parallel to the ground? This was with the bag fully inflated (about a 4" lift over stock) and not how I had it designed. Thats also a short bed pickup



Edit: argh... can't upload photos now with this site issue.... @ Alienturtle: shoot me a text and I'll send you the photo

 

[88IDITurbo]

Lets see traction bars with air ride!...

 

[wmoguy]

Lets see traction bars with air ride!...

Cool looks like its working now